Thermal transfer sheet and intermediate transfer medium

Abstract

A thermal transfer sheet is used in indirect transfer printing for forming an image through a primary transfer from the thermal transfer sheet to an intermediate transfer medium and thereafter forming an image on a transfer target through secondary transfer to the transfer target. The thermal transfer sheet includes, on a substrate, a masking layer that is a portion that prevents transfer to the transfer target during the secondary transfer. The masking layer is formed from a resin having a Tg of 140° C. or more and 220° C. or less, and the masking layer contains 0.5 wt % or more and 20 wt % or less filler particles relative to the resin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal transfer sheet for use in indirect transfer printing for forming an image through primary transfer from the thermal transfer sheet to an intermediate transfer medium and thereafter forming an image on a transfer target through secondary transfer to the transfer target, the thermal transfer sheet, comprising:
 a masking layer on a substrate, the masking layer being a portion that prevents transfer to the transfer target during the secondary transfer, wherein   the masking layer is formed from a resin having a Tg of 140° C. or more and 220° C. or less, and   the masking layer contains 0.5 wt % or more and 20 wt % or less filler particles relative to the resin.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal transfer sheet of  claim 1 , wherein
 the filler particles contained in the masking layer have a diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 5 μm or less.   
     
     
         3 . The thermal transfer sheet of  claim 1 , wherein
 the masking layer has a thickness of 0.1 μm or more and 3 μm or less.   
     
     
         4 . The thermal transfer sheet of  claim 1 , wherein
 the masking layer and a plurality of color thermal transfer ink layers are sequentially arranged across a surface of the substrate.   
     
     
         5 . An intermediate transfer medium, comprising:
 a substrate; and   at least an intermediate layer and an image receiving layer laminated sequentially on one surface of the substrate, wherein   the intermediate transfer medium forms an image through primary transfer from a sublimation ink layer or a hot-melt ink layer in a thermal transfer sheet to the image receiving layer, thereafter forming an image on a transfer target through secondary transfer to the transfer target,   the intermediate transfer medium includes a masking layer formed for the image receiving layer, the masking layer being a portion that prevents transfer to the transfer target and is peeled from the image receiving layer through the secondary transfer after the image is formed from the ink layer onto the image receiving layer,   the masking layer is formed from a resin having a Tg of 140° C. or more and 220° C. or less, and   the masking layer contains 0.5 wt % or more and 20 wt % or less filler particles relative to the resin.   
     
     
         6 . The intermediate transfer medium of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a peeling layer between the substrate and the intermediate layer.   
     
     
         7 . The intermediate transfer medium of  claim 5 , wherein
 the filler particles contained in the masking layer have a diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 5 μm or less.   
     
     
         8 . The intermediate transfer medium of  claim 5 , wherein
 the masking layer has a thickness of 0.1 μm or more and 3 μm or less.